Siding-tool.



H. E. THOMPSON.

Smm@ Toor..

ION FILED JUNE 5,1910.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

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WITNESS/58:

NETE@ STATES PATENT @FFQE HENRY E. THOT/IPSON, OF WISDOM, MONTANA.

SDNG-TOOL.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. THOMPSON, a citizen ot the United States,and a resident of Wisdom, in the county of Beaverhead and State ofMontana, have invented a new and improved Siding-Tool, ot which thefollowing is a full, clear, and eXact description.

iimong the principal objects which the present invention has in vieware: to provide a tool for marking siding or clapboards to fit thecorner board irrespective of the angle at which the inner edge thereofis cut; to provide a tool for marking boards adapted to be controlled asto the line of mark by the undercut edge of a corner board door orwindow casing; to provide means for setting the tool to ascertain thedesired thickness of corner board, door or window casing and thethickness and width ot clapboarding or siding; and to provide a tool otthe construction illustrated which is simple, durable and etticient.

Gne embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structureillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters otreference denote correspondingl parts in all the views, and in which*Figure l is a perspective view, fragmentary in form and on an enlargedscale, showing the corner construction ot a building to which is to beapplied clapboarding, a tool constructed in accordance with the presentinvention being' shown in connection therewith; Fig. 2 is a verticalsection, fragmentary in form, showing the corner board, sheathing andclapboard in position to be marked for the saw cut, the tool being shownin side elevation and in operative position; F ig. 3 is a detail view inplan, ot a tool constructed and arranged in accordance with the presentinvention, the same being shown in operative position upon a clapboard,and in engagement with a corner board; and Fig. llis a cross section ot'the tool, showing the longitudinally movable face plate in engagementwith the bevel edge of a corner board.

For reasons related to the art ot house construction the corner finishis formed by square corner boards A. These boards are overlaid upon thesheathing boards B, B after the same have been nailed to the stud C. Forthe purpose of concealing the but-ted joint of the clapboard D againstthe corner Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 25, 1910.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910. serial No. 568,835.

boards A., the inner edges of the said corner boards are slightlybeveled inward, as illustrated in the drawings, particularly in Figs. l,3 and 4t. Heretotore the joint has been made by the carpenter forming astraight cross cut ot the boards, pitching the saw slightly to providefor the anglev ot the inner tace of the corner board. The accuracy ofthe pitch at which the saw has been placed has been a matter of personalequation, and therefore widely varied. It is to overcome theinaccuracies above stated that l have provided a tool tor marking theclapboards, accurate under all conditions, whether the corner boards,door or window casings are erected accurately vert-ical or not, andwhether the inner edges of the corner boards are beveled under oroutward.

The straight body portion 5 of the tool is of any desired length, thatpreferred by me being about eight inches, which accommodates thestandard run in width of clapboarding. At the one end of said bodyportion 5 the same is provided with a slot 6 eX- tended lengthwise otthe said body portion to torm a runway for the adjustment of a taceplate 7 at the lower, or what we will term the butt end ot the tool. Theface plate 7 is slidably mounted on a bracket 8, a slotbeing provided inthe-said bracket opening outwardly to form a guide for a slide block 9,which is extended from the back ot the tace plate 7, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. a of the drawings. IThe bracket 8 is provided with a guideblock l0. Set out from the block l is a screw extension, on the threadedend whereotl is mounted a set nut 11. The block l0 neatly lits the slotG to guide the movement of the bracket 8 and face plate 7 carriedthereby, to maintain the disposition of the said tace plate at an angleot 90O to the body portion 5. The flange ot the nut l1 overhangs theslot G on the outer surface ot the body portion 5, and when the said nutis turned tightly it impinges upon the body portion and draws thebracket hard against the same in holding relation.

The upper or forward end ot the body portion is overturned to extendfrom the said body portion at an angle of 90o therefrom, and to form thearm extensions l2, l2. Between the arm extensions 12, l2 is accuratelymilled a slot to receive a slide block 13. rThe block 13 is extendedfrom a face plate 14, which, together with the tace plate 7, forms thegage for the width o1' the clapboarding l). The `tace plates 7 and 1-1are each provided with upwardly beveled sides torn'iingl the wedge shapeshown particularly in Figs. 3 and et. The plate 7 is provided withprojected corners 15, 15, and the plate 1e is provided with corners 16,1li. rlhe corners 15 and 16 are disposed on opposite sides oit the taceplates, and accurately parallel with the 'l'ace ot the body portion 5,whereby the distance between the body portion 5 and either of thecorners 15, 15 or 1G, 16 is the same without regard to which sido of the:tace plate is used. The distance from the corners 15 and 1Grespectively, to the outer edge ot the 'face plate upon which they areformed, is equal to one-halt the thickness of' the clapboard and ot theedge thereorn to which each ot the said plates is approximated when thetool is in use. This arrangement of the tace plates secures accuratemarkings on the clapboarding when the same is held in position betweenthe tace plates, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and when the saidcorners and 1G are moved into contact with the undercut edge ot thecorner board A.

The blocks'Q and 13 of the respective plates T and 1-1 are provided withaccurate markii s 1?. By means ot these markings there may beascertained the thickness rcquired tor the corner board. The block 18has extended therefrom a groove threaded extension, upon which ismounted knurled nut 1S, the llange whereof overrides the extensions 12,12 to impinge thereon and clamp the plate 141 in set position. The plate1/1 is provided with a bevel upper surface 19 turned toward the bodyportion f rlhe said surface, when thus disposed, prevents the plate 1-1catching,` Vupon the thin edge of boarding D when the tool is drawn fromengagement therewith.

'the slide block 9 is provided with a screw threaded extension having`engaged therewith a knurled screw nut 21., being the same in instructionand operation as the nuts 11 and 18.

The body portion 5 is provided with bevel edges 90, Q0, constructed inthe manner usual tor rules tor marking', whereby the point of a pencilmay be carried close to the `iunction oit the boarding` and body portion5.

lilith a tool thus constructed, the operation is as follows: Preliminaryto marking' the clapboardingthe carpenter adjusts the tool withreference to the corner board A. To do this the body portion is laidupon the corner liioard and the face plate 1(1- is extended downwarduntil the edge rests upon the sheathingv board B. To permit thismovement the nut 1S is loosened to permit the sliding' block 13 to work'freely between the extensions 12. 1t will be 'understood that the blockle has been extended beyond the ends ot the extensions 1'2 a distanceequal to the thickness of the narrow edge of the clapboarding to beused, the marking 1i' on the said block 13 being used to indicate theproper distance. rthe plate 15 is similarly extended from the bracket Sa distance equal to the thickness oit the thick edge of the clapboardingto be used. This adjustment having been acconnplished, and the partsseparated by tightening the screws 18, Q1, the operation is follows:rlie nut 11 is loosened so that the bracket 8 will slide longitudinallyin the slot 6. The clapboarding to be used is placed against the cornerboards A and the body portion 5 is overlaid thereover, the face plates7, lll, resting against the edges ot the clapboarding. 1n this positionthe nut 11 is tightened, holding the bracket 8 in lixed position. Theline for marking; the board D will be found to be parallel to the linebetween the corner 16 on the tace plate 1-1 and the corner 15 on thetace plate 7 where the saine rest against the surface o1 the undercutedge ot the corner board A. lilhen the board D is cut on this line itwill. be found. that the end of the board thus cut corresponds to theline oit the angle caused by the meeting' oit the overhung surface ofthe corner board and the clapboard having' varied thicknesses. The toolis now in position to be used tor marking` the clapboarding. r1`his isaccomplished by placing the clapboarding against the corner board A tooverlay the saine to the position shown in the drawings. The nut 11 isloosened to permit the block 10 and bracket S carried thereby to slidelengthwise on the body portion 5. rlhe tool is placed over theclapboarding D, the extensions 12 and the tace plate 11 carried therebybeing' placed over the upper or thin edge oit the clapboarding. rthetace plate 7 is lifted against the lower edge oil' the clapboardingi'.and in this position the nut 11 is upset to hold the bracket S and .taceplate Y rigidly in position. rlhe tool is thon moved until the corners15 and 16 et the plates 7 and 11 strike against the undercut side of thecorner board A. Using the side of the body portion 5 a mark is now madeon the clapbiiard D for cutting' the same. rllhe mark thus made isparallel to a line drawn between the corners and 16, and an aecuratescribe of the median line of the vjunction between the undercut verticaledge oi" the corner board A and the vertical Y' butt end of theclapboard D. rlfhe tool is continued in use in this manner tor allsucceeding boards. 1f the widths ol" the boards vary, the tool at oncedetects this deflect. 1t the saine is unintentional it is corrected; itthe saine is intentional the tool is readjusted to suit the variation inwidth but not the variation in the extension of the tace plate 7.

The bracket 8 and the extensions l2 are disposed in mutually parallelrelation, but are extended at an angle of greater than 90@ from the bodyportion This angle is Jreferablv el@ awa from the 90, this beine' i l ya the pitch of the wedge shape in cross section to which the clapboardsare milled. T his angle may be varied to any desired extent l withoutaltering the scope of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters atent is l, ii siding tool, comprising an elongatedbody portion having a slot formed loiigitudiiially therein; a fixedbracket secured on said body portion and extended from the under sidethereof; a movable bracket having a sliding block mounted in said slotin said body portion and extended from the said body portion in parallelrelation with the said fixed bracket; a pluralityT of gage platesmounted on said brackets, said gage plates having lateral convergedextensions adapted to iiiipiiige upon surfaces perpendicular to saidbody portion; and means for holding the said gage plates on saidbrackets.

2. A siding' tool, comprising an elongated body portion having a slotformed longitudinally therein; av fixed bracket secured to said bodyportion and extended from the under side thereof, said bracket beingprovidedv with an outwardly opening elongated slot; a movable biacketslidingly mounted in said slot in said body portion, and having anoutwardly opening elongated slot, said movable bracket being arranged inparallel disposition to said xed bracket; means for securing saidmovable bracket in fixed. adjusted position in said slot in said bodyportion: ir plurality of gage plates slidably mounted in said brackets,said plates having converged-lateral extensions to inipinge uponsurfaces perpendicular to said body portion; and a plurality of holding`devices for fixing said gage plates in adjusted position.

3. iti siding tool, comprising an elongated body portion having a slotformed longitudinally therein; a fixed bracket secured to said body`portion and extended from the under side thereof, said bracket beingprovided with an outwardly opening elongated slot; a movable bracketslidingly mounted in said slot in said body portion, and having anoutwardly opening elongated slot, said movable bracket being arranged inparallel disposition to said fixed bracket; means for securing saidmovable bracket in fixed adjusted position in said slot in said bodyportion; a plurality of gage plates slidably mounted in said brackets,said plates having converged lateral extensions to impinge upon surfacesperpendicular to said body portion and end surfaces to limit theextension of said plates, said plates being varied in the extent of theseparation of said end surfaces and said lateral extensions; and aplurality of holding devices for fixing said gage plates in adjustedposition.

il. A siding tool, comprising an elongated body portion having a slotformed longitudinally therein; a fixed bracket secured to said bodyportion and extended from the under side thereof, said bracket beingprovided with an outwardly opening elongated slot; a movable bracketslidingly mounted iii said slot in said body portion, and having anoutwardly opening elongated slot, said movable bracket being arranged inparallel disposition to said x-ed bracket; means for securing saidmovable bracket in fixed adjusted position in said slot in said bodyportion; a plurality of gage plates slidably mounted in said brackets,said plates having converged lateral extensions to iinpinge uponsurfaces perpendicular to said body portion and end surfaces to limitthe extension of said plates, the converged extension of one of saidplates being removed from the forward edge thereof a distance equal tothe sine of the angle of the pitch of clapboarding; and a pluralityofholding devices for fixing said gage plates in adjusted position.

5. A siding tool, comprising an elongated body portion having a slotformed longitudinally therein; a fixed bracket secured to said bodyportion and extended from the underside thereof, said bracket beingprovided with an outwardly opening elongated slot; a movable bracketslidingly mounted in said slot in said body portion, and having anoutwardly opening elongated slot, said movable bracket being arranged inparallel disposition to said fixed bracket; means for securing saidmovable bracket in fixed adjusted position in said slot in said bodyportion; a plurality of gage plates slidably mounted in said brackets,said plates having converged lateral extensions to impinge upon surfacesperpendicular to said body portion and end surfaces to limit theextension of said plates, the converged extension in one of said platesbeing removed from the forward edge thereof a distance equal to thethickness of the narrow edge of the corner board, and the convergedextension of the other of said plates being removed from the forwardedge thereof adistance equal to one-half the thickness of the cornerboard minus the thickness of the thin edge of the underlying sidingboard at the line of the lower edge of the overlapping siding board; anda plurality of holding devices for fixing said gage plates in adjustedposition.

G. A siding' tool, comprising an elongated body portion having a slotformed longitudinally therein; a fixed bracket secured to said bodyportion and extended fromthe under side thereof, said bracket beingprovided with an outwardly opening elongated slot; a movable bracketslidingly mounted in said slot in said body portion, and having anoutwardly opening elongated slot, said movable bracket being arranged inparallel disposition to said. liXed bracket; means for securing saidmovable bracket in lined adjusted position in said slot in said bodyportion; a plurality of gage plates slidingly mounted in said brackets,said plates having converged lateral extensions to impinge upon surfacesperpendicular to said body portion and end surfaces to limit theextension of said plates, the converged extension in one of said platesbeing removed from the forward edge thereof a distance equal to thethickness of the corner board minus the thickness of the thin edge ofthe underlying siding board at the line of the lower edge of theoverlapping siding board7 and the converged extension of the other ofsaid plates being removed from the forward edge thereof a distance equalto one-half the thickness oi' the corner board minus the thickness o'the thin edge of the underlying siding board at the line of the loweredge olf the overlapping siding board, and said gages being providedwith graduate markings arranged to indicate the eX- tension of saidplates; and a plurality of holding devices 'for fixing said gage pla-tesin adjusted position.

ln testimony whereof l have signed this specilication in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

HENRY E. THUMPSON.

Titnesses G. l QUARLES, ALLEN C. Mnnnrrfr.

